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Friday, January 29, 2016

Today's post is an update on my current night time skincare routine! Many products have been swapped out for other ones, and new products have reached HG status. Let me show you.

After a long day, I start removing my makeup using the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. It's very gentle and it does its job at getting the majority of the makeup and dirt off. I also use The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Removerto help take off the makeup by my eyes, especially since I use waterproof products to prevent smudging.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

I am back in school and work is already piling up. When I have to review lectures and notes that are not particularly exciting, it's really hard for me to sit still and focus on it. Instead of getting distracted and wasting time, here are some tips to help you stay focused on whatever you need to do. I do these myself so that I can stay productive too!

1. Give yourself breaks!

Some people believe that you just need to blow through all your work in one go without taking breaks... That definitely doesn't work for me. After an hour or so I start getting fidgety and lose focus. I found that multiple small breaks in between chunks of studying will clear and restart the mind for another period of work. I like to watch ONE YouTube video as a break after I finish a subject's worth of work. You can also scroll through your favourite site for a set short time, do some exercise/stretching, or make a snack for yourself.

2. Make yourself feel great and beautiful!

When I'm not in a good mood because of all the work I still have to do, one of the fun ways I relax before hitting the grind is to beautify myself! Of course it's not a full makeover but I like to do little things like put on some lip colour, spray some fragrance, or put on some hand cream. These little things can be a pick-me-up so you feel better to tackle your work. My current pick-me-ups are: Elizabeth & James Nirvana White fragrance, Crabtree & Evelyn Nantucket Briar Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy, and Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.

Monday, January 11, 2016

I've had issues with acne and sensitive skin for the longest time. It was serious enough that a trip to the dermatologist was needed and medication had to be taken to control it. There were definitely times when I felt very uncomfortable and insecure because of it. I would feel embarrassed whenever other people brought up my acne problem in conversations. I wanted to hide it all with my hair or makeup. This picture was taken at the worst of it:

There are many ways to improve this condition: getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, eating healthy, and also choosing the right products for your skincare routine. Those lifestyle choices helped my skin get much better but there'll still be flare-ups every once in a while. At the end of the day, what's most important is still loving yourself and embracing all of you. It's not easy to think that when you feel like you're not beautiful, but I did it. Your skin may not be perfect, but I'm positive that there are many other great qualities that makes you wonderful.

For the random flare-ups that I still get, The Clean & Clear Acne Skin 3-Step System helps to keep it controlled and the spots to fade as fast as it can. The skincare system consists of a cleanser, astringent, and moisturizer that is specifically formulated for people who have acne issues like me.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

It's finally 2016! I'm sad that the school term will be starting in a week. Despite all of that, I need to start recovering from the holidays.

I have a bunch of new beauty and skincare products that I'm so excited to try out in this new year... probably very very soon.

* All the products were purchased by me, gifted to me by friends, or sent to me for PR consideration.

~ FaceShop Herb Day Cleansing Foam Lemon: It's suppose to be a brightening cleanser that uses lemon extract to eliminate dead skin and give a luminous complexion. Excited to try!

~ Lord & Taylor Perfect Eyes Natural Palette: I didn't have an eyeshadow palette consisting of pink and rose toned shades, and it was at a great price of $10 from Hudson's Bay! A review post on it is coming soon so keep your eyes peeled.

~ Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Roller Ball: This is my favourite fragrance of all time. A beautiful but not overpowering floral scent that has notes of peony, muguet, and tender musk. It's a feminine scent that I love.

~ The Body Shop Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz: I've never really used or seen the benefits of a facial spray... but with this I can try it out! It probably smells of citrus which I would like.

~ Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquers: These four nail polishes cover all the bases for winter berry tones, although they can all be used throughout the year. I've yet to try them but I hope they are opaque and chip resistant.

~ Hourglass Travel Size Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light: I've been wanting to try this for so so long since hearing the rave reviews of these powders! They're awesome for making your skin look radiant and recreating the perfect light on your face.

~ Holika Holika After Hard Study Mask Sheet: I've heard of this Asian beauty brand before. I'm saving this mask for later on in the school term after some legit, hardcore studying!

~ FaceShop Cushion Screen Cell in Natural Beige: I've been also wanting to try this form of foundation on. You use a sponge pad to press on the cushion soaked in the liquid foundation and then apply onto the face. A similar, popular product is the Laneige BB Cushion. This was 50% off so it was a more affordable option to try first.

~ Maybelline Colour Elixir in Mauve Mystique: I've already tried this lip gloss but I gotta say that I'm a bit disappointed in it. It gives a high shine but the colour doesn't show well on the lips. I have another one in a bright coral colour for the spring/summer months and the colour pay-off of that is much better. Maybe this was a faulty one.

~ Rimmel Matte BB Cream in Medium: For general everyday use I like using something lighter like a BB cream, but this can also control oil shine with the matte finish... killing two birds with one stone!

Hello!

My name is Desiree and I'm from Toronto, Canada. Welcome to my creative space! This is my avenue to share about the things I love: beauty, fashion, home, and lifestyle. I hope you stick around and experience the joys of life with me!